Everywhere you go there's an old tale that is passed down over the generations. There's one in particular that seems to surpass cultures and countries.
The legend of "The Red String of Fate" says that two lovers are connected by a red thread, tied so strongly by an unbreakable bond that it transcends time.
They are always led to the other, regardless of places or circumstances. Although the string can sometimes stretch and tangle, forming loops, their connection will never be broken.
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It was wrong, she admits that now.
Though it's still hard to worry about what she has done; in the end she needed this time away. With everything returning to their rightful places, after the moon incident and Team Seven saving the world again, the normalcy was... bothering her.
Maybe because she was feeling like she could have done more if given the chance. Maybe because her daily routine had turned boring after so much action in those few days. Or maybe... she was just tired of waiting around for Kami knows what and for Kami knows how long.
So, abusing her connections and people skills – which may have included a bottle of the finest sake in Konoha and a bookstore gift card delivered to her former senseis – Sakura kinda-sorta manipulated her own self-assigned mission, turning it into a mini vacation; a mission that any genin team could finish in a couple of days was changed into a solo mission for the head of the hospital.
The task that was, initially, simple (to collect certain herbs to restock Konoha's medical greenhouse), now involves some soil and herbal research of the area, and a cottage at her disposal in the outskirts of Konoha's northern forest for the time being.
After getting settled, she finds the first items of her list by following the trail from her cottage to a nearby lake. Sakura considers the lakeshores fascinating, with the potential for rich findings in the wild, a healthy setting that encompasses its own little ecosystem and has unique conditions. Rebuilding that particular setting in an artificial environment is almost impossible – and most of the times they do try, the results aren't nearly as perfect – therefore the need for such a mission in the first place.
As she methodically plucks the root of the plants growing around the lily pads and reed, the sun filters through the canopy of the willow tree, creating a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of sunlight and nature around her. The day is already ten times better than usual, she thinks, sighing wistfully.
Where are you now, Sasuke-kun?
The question comes and goes, as easy as breathing, and she tries not to dwell on it for too long. It's a safety clutch, she knows, but she can't help it if she misses him so much; she just needs his presence in her daily life, somehow. So, she wonders and hopes...
Are you under the same sky as me?
She is not sure how long it has been, but her basket is two-thirds full by the time she breaks from this calming trance – pluck, prune, clean, rinse, repeat. Her hair flows sideways, temporarily blinding her, and unconsciously she swipes the loose strands and tucks them behind her ears.
It's then that Sakura stands up, not because she's ready to move to the next loot though. It takes her approximately two seconds to realize that something is wrong. It's not only her ninja skills screaming at her, no, she can feel it in the prickling of her skin; the way her flesh is suddenly alert and the hair on the nape of her neck stands out.
She takes a deep breath and her eyes take in her surroundings: Right, above, left, and down.
That gush of wind isn't as natural, the geography of the valley around her proves as much. The sun is setting in a couple hours, which explains almost every shadow that she registered in her quick swipe. And then there's the fact that she's not alone.
Well, Sakura knows she's the only human being in that area; the next outpost is at least three miles away. But since she arrived, she's aware of any squeak and creak in the forest (and of any creature lurking by as well). It's becoming a background sound, a white noise that soothes her, giving her the peacefulness that she was looking for when she planned this work retreat.
Another second goes by and she's certain that no crickets or cicadas have made a sound. Sakura twists around herself, hand poised near her weapon's pouch, as she scans the area one more time. She sends a wave of chakra around her, covering her surroundings in an instant. As it stretches and touches the farther corner of the forest, a magnetic surge blasts nearby and she automatically feels a shiver taking over her like an electric shock.
Then, she runs.
She just knows she needs to run.
The basket is forgotten by the shore as she pumps chakra to her feet and runs, jumping from branch to branch, her eyes set in one direction. Sakura is not sure what she's about to find – or if there'll be anything there at all. As a kunoichi, she knows she should be more cautious, but there's just something pushing her forward right now and she can't ignore it.
She lands on a clear area surrounded by a steep rock wall, trees and bushes. Immediately, she's aware of the black mass a few feet from her. Mentally noting that no border seals went off, she approaches it.
It's a person, a man, and he's injured it seems.
Her green chakra flickers on her palms and she approaches the man slowly, the same way she would a wounded animal. Sakura hopes she has the necessary supplies to help him, and mentally lists everything she has in her pouch and in the cottage.
She hears a groan and momentarily flinches. The confirmation that someone is in pain makes her move faster, and in the next second, Sakura's crouching beside the man. He lays on his stomach, a mess of dark hair shields his face, and a black cloak covers the rest of his body.
As she scans his figure, she notices the burnt grass and ashes around his body. The explosion hit the ground and him. Then, the metallic scent of blood enters her nostrils; it's faint but it's there. Sakura curses under her breath, only now noticing that the smoke was masking it.
She reaches out and gently moves the man, minding his possible injuries. One hand is automatically poised over him, ready to scan his body, when she finally sees the stranger.
A shaky gasp leaves her mouth, and her medical composure wavers momentarily as she takes him in.
And then, her hands glow green again.
